Spring - new arrivals!

The most exciting news of the lot this weekend was the unexpected arrival (and not only to us but to the owner, Chris!) of a beautiful foal in the field. She must have been born on Friday night or Saturday morning, and she's now gambolling about happily, well looked after by her experienced mother. She already has a name (not given by us!) - Spice. So welcome to the world, adorable creature.

Awwww!

Spring is well and truly sprung now - Chiffchaffs are singing everywhere, trees are bursting forth (not the birches or oaks, mind you!), the hedge is growing happily, Brimstones, Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells are on the wing and there were even Pipistrelle and Noctule Bats hunting this evening, the first day of BST.

New species for the garden have come thick and fast too - a long-overdue singing Goldcrest last week, and an unseen calling Redshank today - we're now on a scarcely believable 95 species. Moth-wise, a good trap in mild conditions produced several lifers among garden ticks - see some photos below, plus Clouded Drab, Brindled Pug and Diurnea fagella, a micro, of which interestingly Portland had only their second ever record today as well.

Pine Beauty

Oak Beauty

Engrailed

Early Grey

Fionnbharr has also been keenly helping - in this case hunting moles.....